POLICE investigating the shooting of two mourners leaving a Sikh funeral believe the attack may be linked to a series of violent incidents at Midland temples.

POLICE investigating the shooting of two mourners leaving a Sikh funeral believe the attack may be linked to a series of violent incidents at Midland temples.

A lone gunman, described as Asian in appearance and sporting a black turban and beard, fired six shots at a 49-year-old man and his 28 year-old nephew.

The attack happened last Monday in the Tollgate Shopping Precinct car-park, near one of the country's oldest Sikh temples called the Guru Nanak Gurdawar.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said the victims had attended a funeral at the West Bromwich Crematorium which was followed by prayers at the temple.

The pair were shot with a handgun as they drove out of the car park in a black Bentley Arnage car.

The 49 year-old victim is understood to be a wealthy businessman who owns a number of Midland entertainment venues, including an Asian wedding hall in Dudley.

He was shot in the leg and his nephew was struck in his shoulder and pelvis. None of the injuries were life-threatening.

One source said there had been a number of violent incidents between rival factions at a number of Birmingham Sikh temples.

He said: "There is a renegade group of extremist so-called Sikhs who are locked in a power struggle with opposing factions in an effort to take control of a number of gurdwaras.

"So far the incidents have not led to any serious injuries, but there have been a number of beatings and threats."

It is not uncommon for gurdwara committee elections to spill over into violent confrontations over who takes control of the purse-strings.

The source, who has spoken to police, said: "There are a lot of wealthy Sikhs in the Midlands and they are not slow to donate vast sums of money to temples for construction and day-to-day running costs.

"Corruption is a problem. Some corrupt people even use the temples as a front either for laundering money or bringing illegal immigrants to the country under the guise of them being Sikh priests."

Detective George Tracey, of West Midlands Police, said a motive had not been established and police were keen to speak to witnesses.

He said: "There is some suggestion that the gunman was wearing a false beard or some sort of disguise.

"We are keen to establish what the motive was but what we have a lack of at the moment is witnesses."

A spokesman for the British Sikh Federation said the vast majority of Sikh temples were well run and operated as charity organisations.